Shane Doan Close to Signing 4-Year Deal to Stay with Phoenix Coyotes?

William DePaoli of Inside Pittsburgh Sports is reporting free agent Shane Doan is close to signing a new, four-year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes. The article cites prospective owner Greg Jamison, who has had an on-again, off-again relationship with regards to this purchase, making progress towards acquiring the Phoenix franchise, this time securing some investors.

Mike Sunnucks' article for the Phoenix Business Journal backs up this claim, stating Jamison has found several partners to back him.

Two sources with knowledge of the three-year-old Coyotes ownership saga say Jamison now has the investors and partners in place to finally buy the Coyotes and a deal could close very soon.

One source familiar with the deal said Jamison has secured the money and partners to buy the team and final details are being reviewed by the NHL.

If Jamison is in fact close to acquiring the Coyotes, the soap opera that has been the Shane Doan sweepstakes should end. Doan has done his due diligence looking at other teams to see if he would be a fit should Phoenix not be an option. If Phoenix ownership stabilizes, Doan's priority all along was to return to the only franchise he's ever played for.

One nugget DePaoli gave in his article was the New York Rangers being the clear No. 2 favorite behind the Coyotes. His past relationships with the coaching staff (John Tortorella and Jim Schoenfeld were coaches in Phoenix and he was a teammate of Mike Sullivan's) along with New York's talented team were of interest to the 'Yotes captain.

It also makes you wonder if Glen Sather was prepared to offer Doan a four-year deal similar to one rumored all along.

What does the news mean? Shane Doan looks to be going back to where he never wanted to leave.